Laser Surgery

• What is laser refractive surgery?
• What is LASIK?
• Are my eyes suitable?
• Laser surgery may not be suitable if you:
• Will I need spectacles or contact lenses again?
• There are two LASIK clinics in Christchurch:

What is laser refractive surgery?

Laser refractive surgery is the reshaping of the front surface of the eye (the cornea) using a computer controlled laser to permanently change the focusing power of the eye. The procedure involves removing a small amount of tissue from the cornea (up to 20%) and reshaping it to correct distance vision.

What is LASIK?

Laser in-situ keratomilensis or LASIK has become the most popular form of refractive surgery internationally and has been available in New Zealand since 1995. LASIK is used to treat myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. A thin flap is made on the surface of the cornea using a microkeratome or IntraLase laser. The excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea under the flap which is then put back into place. There is minimal discomfort and rapid visual recovery.

Are my eyes suitable?

Laser refractive surgery is suitable for most healthy adults who wear glasses or contact lenses for normal distance vision. For high corrections the corneal thickness may limit the improvement possible, i.e. because there is a limit to how much corneal tissue can safely be removed if you have a high correction and a thin cornea a full correction may not be possible. Any potential problems of this sort will be discussed by the surgeon or his clinic staff during the pre-operative screening processes.

Laser surgery may not be suitable if you:

• Are under age 21
• Have needed a change in your spectacle or contact lens correction in the last 12 months
• Have corneal disease such as keratoconus or herpetic keratitis
• Have an eye condition such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration
• Are pregnant or breast feeding

Will I need spectacles or contact lenses again?

Laser surgery will not prevent any normal age related progression in your distance prescription. If your vision does change you may need spectacles or contact lenses at some stage in the future. With regard to near vision, as we get older the lens inside the eye thickens and hardens and slowly loses its flexibility, as a result of this we lose our ability to see near work clearly, a change which most people notice at about age 40-45. This loss of near focusing ability is call presbyopia. Presbyopia is not a disease but is a normal, age related change that affects everyone, because of this we are all likely to need reading glasses at some stage. Laser refractive surgery does not correct near vision.

There are two LASIK clinics in Christchurch:

Fendalton Eye Clinic
10 Otara St 269
Phone (03) 351 3518

Laservision Eye Clinic:
Papanui Road
Phone (03) 355 5660

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